Apparatus for shaping and sizing balls



Oct. 3-1, 1939. F. H. G. BRANDT 2,178,031

APPARATUS FOR SHAPING AND SIZING BAflLS Filed Feb. 8, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Oct. 31, 1939. F, H. e. BRANDT APPARATUS FOR SHAPING AND SIZING BALLS Filed Feb. 8, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FAQ mm mm y d m w A v R& Q m 0 o wJ/l. 0 MM Q o fi v .3 m o O O \m P? QM. NM. v 5i. 9Q wh Q \w 0 1 0 O Q R M o O. O O O N. QQ\ 0 0 3w o J m S o k Oct. 31, 1939. F. H. e. BRANDT APPARATUS FOR SHAPING AND SIZING BALLS Filed Feb. 8, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 31, 1939. F. H. G. BRANDT APPARATUS FOR SHAPING AND SIZING BALLS Filed Feb. 8, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 N VENTOR Fred H 6. 5/22/1 07,

Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR- SHAPIN G AND SIZING BALLS Application February 8, 1937, Serial No. 124,727

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for finishing balls, for example those used in ball grinding mills.

It is the present practice to form grinding balls of this character by pressing sections of. a heated rod between a pair of dies having sufficient concavity to impart an approximately spherical shape; however, unless the alignment conditions of the dies are exactly correct, equatorial flashes are produced onthe balls or slugs and the ends thereof are usually flattened at the poles so that the resultant shape is far from being smooth and spherical in character.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for finishing the balls to size and for imparting a substantially true spherical shape thereto, entirely free from pits, flashes and other defects.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a machine wherein a spherical shape is imparted to the balls by a rolling and sliding forging action immediately after they have been delivered from the preliminary shaping dies; to

provide for progressively shaping the balls in separate stages to a definite diameter; and to provide a machine which is of simple construction and capable of ready adjustment for producing balls having a predetermined size.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a ball finishing and. sizing machine embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the machine on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 3a are detail perspective views of adjacent rotary die members shown in disassembled spaced relation.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of one of the lower die shoes illustrating mounting thereof on its supporting member.

Fig. 5 is a section through the machine on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of one of the die shoe supporting members.

Fig. '7 is a detail perspective view of the parts of one of the die shoe supporting members shown in disassembled spaced relation, a part of the vertical arms being broken away to better illustrate the ends of the horizontal arms.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the machine on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the transfer chutes.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail section through one of the rotary dies and its cooperating die shoe, illustrating the out of plane contact points of the die track relatively to the planetary path of a ball moved therethrough.

Fig. 11 is a section through one of the balls or 10 slugs as it is delivered from the preliminary shaping dies, particularly illustrating a flash thereon and a flattened belt on the opposite side.

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of the ball illustrated in Fig. 11. 15

Fig. 13 is a view of the ball after it has been finished and shaped to size in accordance with the present invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a ball finishing and sizing machine 20 embodying the features of the present invention, and which includes a horizontal base 2 supporting side frames 3 and 4 that are interconnected by cross members 5, 6, l and 8. Formed in the respective side frames are aligning bearing housing chambers 9 and ID in which are adjustably mounted bearing housings II and I2 for supporting a driven shaft 3. The bearing housings each include a substantially cylindrical cup-like member l4 having bearing recesses [5 opening from the outer sides thereof to accommodate roller thrust bearings I 6, the outer races I! of which are urged into seating engagement against the bases l8 of the recesses by caps I9 closing the open ends of the recesses and having flanges 20 35 sleeved therein and engaging against the outer. races as best shown in Fig. 8. The inner races 2| are mounted on tapered bushings 22 sleeved over the shouldered ends 3 of the shaft [3. The bushings areurged into adjusting engagement with the bearings by nuts 24 threaded on reduced shouldered. portions 25 of the shaft at the outer ends of the bushing supporting portions 23 there-= of. The outer ends of the shaft have reduced extensions 26 and 21 projecting through suitable 45 openings 28 and 29 in the caps IS. The intermediate portion 30 of the shaft bridges the space between the bearing housings and has its ends rotatably mounted in openings 3| and 32 of the respective bearing housings. 50

With the construction thus far described it is obvious that the bearings are retained against relative longitudinal movement on the shaft and that any lateral movement imparted to the bearing housings will produce corresponding longitudinal movement of the shaft. This is an important feature of the present invention in that it is utilized for effecting adjustment of the respective rotary die members with their outer die shoes, as later described.

In order to eifect shifting movement of the shaft relative to the frames, the bearing housing 12 has a sliding fit in its chamber ill and is splined thereto, as at so that it is retained from rotation therein but is free to move longitudinally in the chamber upon adjustment of the other bearing housing. The other bearing housing H has its periphery threaded as indicated at 34 to engage threads 35 in the cylindrical wall of the recess 9; therefore, when the bearing housing I! is rotated in one or the other direction the housing is caused to move in a lateral direction relative to its supporting side frame to effect corresponding longitudinal movement of the shaft.

Keyed on the portion 36 of the shaft by diametrically spaced splines 36 and 3'! (Fig. 2) are rotary die supporting members 38, 39 and 40 (Fig. 5), each including a hub ll, 32 and 43 respectively, having sets of radial spokes 4:3, 45 and 46 carrying rims M, to and id. The facing ends of the outer hubs M and 43 have annular flanges 5B and El provided with recesses 52 and 53 engaging over the ends of the intermediate hub 42. The intermediate hub 58 has bosses E i conforming to the triangular shaped flanges and El and which are provided with slots aligning with openings and 57 in the flanges to mount connecting bolts whereby the outer hubs ii and 43 are held in adjusted spaced relation to each other. The bolts are provided with flanged collars 59 and 60 engaging the respective ends of the bosses so that the bolts are fixed relatively to the intermediate hub. The outer ends of the bolts, however, extend loosely through the openings in the flanges of the outer hubs and are provided with threaded ends for accommodating nuts 8i and 62.

In order to adjust spacing between the relative members, shims E3 and E i are inserted between the ends of the bosses 5d and 5| and the triangular flanges as best shown in Fig. 8. It is thus obvious that the relative spacing between the rims on the respective rotary die members may be spaced apart predetermined distances by inserting the proper size shims. This is an important feature adjusting the rotary die members to the shoe die members as later described, the shaft adjustment effecting common adjustment of all the rotary die members and the shims adjustment of the individual die members relatively to each other.

Formed on each of the rims are lugs having shouldered portions 86 forming seats for annular die tracks 57, and E9. The die tracks are provided with ears having openings ll cooperating with aligning openings "H2 in the lugs to pass fastening devices whereby the die tracks are removably retained in rigid engagement with the shouldered seats and in concentric relation to the axis of the shaft. Each guide track includes a substanti lly trough-shaped guideway or passage ormed in an outer frustro-conical face 15 of each of the die members. Each troughshaped guideway has arcuate shaped cross-section at the bases '46 thereof but the sides H and 18 thereof are relieved as indicated at T9 and to provide clearance prevent contact of the balls therewith as later described. The arcuate base portions of the guideways have their centers on lines 3i extending parallel with the frustroconical periphery so that the contact portion 82 of the track is offset laterally from the rotational plane of the respective die members, as indicated by the center line 83. The guideways are readily removable from their supporting shoulders so that they may be removed for replacement or resizing of the guide tracks to maintain the desired size of the finished balls that are moved therethrough as later described.

Cooperating with each of the rotary die members are upper and lower pairs of die shoes 8485, 86-431, and 8889. The die shoes are best illustrated in Fig. 4 and include substantially arcuate segments. The die shoes have passages m corresponding to those in the rotary members and have ball contact portions 82 located in the plane represented by the line 8| and cooperating with the contact portions 82 previously described. The sides I? and iii are also relieved in the same manner as the sides Ti and T8 of the passage 14 as indicated at "ii and 80'. The respective pairs of die shoes are supported about the peripheries of the respective rotary die members by means of arms carried on stationary shafts 90 and 9! having their ends mounted in bosses 92 and 93 projecting outwardly from the web portions of the respective side frames as best shown in Fig. 8. The ends of the bosses are provided with plates 9 i and 95 that engage in notches 96 and 9'? that are formed in the projecting ends of the shafts, the plates being retained on the bosses by cap screws 93 and 99. In the illustrated instance, the shafts are located respectively above and below the rotary die members and in such spaced and distant relation to support the die shoes in substantially concentric relation with the main shaft l3.

The die shoe supporting members are best illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, and each includes arms its and liii and right angularly extending arms Hi2 and I83. The arms NH include hubs I04 having bushings m5 of suitable diameter to rock on one or the other of the shafts 90 or 9| as the case may be. The forward ends of the arms NH are provided with susbtantially rectangular shaped recesses H76 in which are fitted wearplates 5G2. The plates and arms are provided with registering openings 203 and me through which fastening devices are extended for attaching the shoe members, as later described. The arms I00 and lfli have tail portions H0 and Ill provided with trunnion openings H2 and M3 for carrying a on block H5 later described. The hub I04 has spaced bearing portions H8, ill and H8 to mount the hub portions H8 and I20 of the arms m2 and E83 and hub ml of the arm I30. The arm lib is fixed in parallel alignment with the 1 arm ill: by means of a spline I22 keying the bearing portion N8 of the hub I04 as best shown in Fig. 5. The right angularly extending arms I02 and H93 are interconnected at a point above the hubs thereof by a block i222 carrying a tail piece i224 projecting rearwardly of the tail portions H0 and iii of the arms I00 and llll. I

The arms 02 and H13 project above the block and carry adjusting and wear plates 25 corresponding to those of the other arms previously described, the arms and plates having registering openings E28 and i2! through which fastening devices of the shoe members are extended. The supporting members thus described are sleeved on the respective shafts 99 and 9| and the hubs are so dimensioned that the shoes carried by the arms of the members are retained in alignment With the respective rotary die members.

The respective sets of die shoes are pivotally connected adjacent their abutting ends between the arms of their respective supporting members on fastening devices, such as bolts I28, that are extended through aligning openings I29 formed in substantially rectangular bosses I30, formed as a part of the shoes as best illustrated in Fig. 4, and through the openings I26 in the arms I02 and I03 of the respective supporting members. The opposite ends of the shoes have similar rectangular portions I3I provided with slotted openings I32 through which fastening devices I33 are extended and through the aligning openings in the forward ends of the arms I and NH. It is thus obvious that the arms I02 and I03 have relative movement to the arms I00 and IOI as limited by the slotted openings I32.

The trunnion blocks I I have laterally extending trunnions I34 and I35 that are mounted in the openings H2 and H3 of the tail portions of the respective arms I00 and MI. Located under the trunnion blocks that are carried by each of the supporting members on the shaft 9| are adjusting screws I36 which are threadedly mounted in bosses I31 formed in the base 2. The heads I38 of the bolts are adjusted to engage the trunnion blocks when the arms I00 and NH Support the outer ends of the lower shoes in desired spaced relation to the periphery of their respective rotary die members. After this adjustment has been made lock nuts I39 are threaded into locking engagement with the bosses I37 to retain the fixed adjustment of the stop screws I36.

Threaded through the connecting bar 8, in alignment with each of the tail portions I24 of the lower supporting members, are similar adjusting screws I40 having their ends bearing against a respective tail portion I24 to limit movement of the arms I02 and I03 in the direction of the rotary members. After adjustment of the screws I40 they are retained in fixed position by jam-nuts I4I engaging the bar 8. The tail portions I24 and the trunnion blocks are retained against their respective stops by means of. coil springs I42 having one of their ends seated against a respective trunnion block and their opposite ends carrying a plate I43 engaged by the terminal end I44 of an adjusting screw I45 threaded through openings I46 in the tail portions I24 of the arms. The action of the springs is adjusted by threading the screws in the openings, after which the tension is maintained by means of jam-nuts I41 threaded on the adjusting screws and engaging the tail portions I24.

The upper set of die shoe supporting members corresponds to the lower set but is arranged reversely thereto as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the adjusting screws I48 for the trunnion blocks being mounted in the frame connecting bar 6, and the adjusting screws I49 for the other arms being mounted in the bar I.

The dies shoes, when assembled and mounted as described, are of such length that they do not completely encircle their respective rotary die members but are spaced apart a sufficient distance to accommodate transfer chutes I50, I5I and I52, whereby a ball delivered from the first rotary die member is passed to the next rotary die member and so on until it has been delivered The chutes are tending spouts I55 communicating with the inlet end of the lower shoes of the next adjacent set of die members as best illustrated in Fig. .1. The chutes are retained in fixed position by means of fastening devices, such as bolts I56, extending through flanges I51 on the respective chutes, and through the bar 5 previously described as best shown in Fig. 2. The inlet end of the lower shoe for the first set of dies is provided with a chute I58 wherethrough preliminarily shaped balls or slugs are delivered by gravity, the chute being connected with the preforming machine to receive the preformed slugs as they are discharged therefrom. The discharge end of the machine is provided with a discharge chute I59 whereby the finished balls are removed from the machine.

While the shaft I3 may be driven in any suitable manner, it is shown as equipped with a pulley I60 which may be actuated by a belt (not shown), operating over a driven pulley of a gear reduction unit or the like.

In operating a machine constructed and assembled as described, the stops I40 and I49 are adjusted to support the abutting ends of the die shoes in required spaced relation with their respective rotary die members, the adjustment being made so that the passages therebetween are of the proper size to impart the desired diameter to the balls as they are progressively moved therethrough, as later described. The stops I36 and I48 are similarly adjusted to support the inlet and delivery ends of the respective shoes in desired spaced relation with the rotary die members to impart the required rolling and forging action to the balls and to permit proper entrance and exit from the respective passageways. The springs I42 are then compressed so as to impart desired pressure on the balls while they are being acted upon by the respective sets of die members.

Attention is again directed to the fact that the locations of the sets of die shoes are fixed in longitudinal direction relatively to the driven shaft I3 and they have no lateral movement in the supporting frame. It therefore may be necessary to adjust the location of the rotary die members relatively to the respective sets of die shoes. This is accomplished. by threading the bearing housing II in the desired direction to effect longitudinal movement of the shaft, thereby bringing the die track of the central rotary die member 39 in proper alignment with the cooperating shoes 86 and 81. Attention is directed to the fact that this lateral adjustment of the rotary die member relatively to the cooperating shoes changes the offset relation of the contact points 82 and 82' and the pitch of the plane indicated by the line 8| in Fig. 10. This is an important feature of the invention in that the offset effects and varies the degree of spiral rotary movement imparted to the balls as they are being moved through the passageway, as later described.

When the central die member has been adjusted to provide the desired alignment, the outer die members 38 and 40 are adjusted relatively thereto by inserting shims 63 and 64 of proper thickness between the ears 50 and EI and the ends of the bosses 54. Upon tightening of the nuts BI and 62 the outer rotary die members are retained in fixed relation to the inner rotary die member, and are movable therewith upon rotation of the driven shaft. The die passage in the first set of die members is of proper size to receive the preformed slugs that are rolled into the machine through the chute I58, and the upper die is so set as to effect initial reduction and smoothing of the slug. The central die passage is such as to effect further reduction and smoothing action, and the final reduction to the desired size is efiected in the passage between the rotary die member 493 and the shoes 88 and 89.

The preformed slugs, when delivered from the preforming machine, are of substantially red heat and roll down the chute 558 into the intake end of the first die shoe 55 to be engaged by the rotary die member. The slug, when engaged by the rotary die member, is caused to roll in reverse direction rela ively to the direction of rotation of the rotary die member and to planetate about the die member in rolling contact with the contact point of the shoes and in the same direction as the rotation of the die member. Owing to the pivotal mounting of the shoe on its supporting arms, the shoe is free to yield to permit entrance of the slug and to allow passage of the slug in case a flash or flat portion thereon should tend to prevent forward advance thereof by the rotary die member. As the wedging action is relieved, the spring again returns the die shoe to its original position. If the wedging action again occurs toward the opposite end of the die shoe, the pivotal mounting relatively to the vertical sup-porting arms allows for yielding movement in a similar manner to permit forward advance of the slug into engagement with the guide passage of the corresponding upper shoe. The slotted opening at the opposite end of the shoe compensates for relative movement between the shoe supporting arms without binding, and particularly in case two slugs should happen to be engaged by the shoe at the same time.

Owing to the offset contact points 82 and 82' of the respective passageways, the slug is caused to roll on constantly changing axes so that substantially the entire surface of the slug is subjected to the forging action of the contact points of the passageways. The slug rotates in a spiral direction simultaneously with its rolling action in a planetary direction, and there is sufficient rolling to effect smoothing of the surface of the slug bringing it toward a substantially spherical shape, and reducing the poles and flashes as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

When the slug is delivered from the first set of die members it is caught by the chute I53 and is transferred therethrough to the intake end of the central set of die members, wherein the slug is further reduced and brought nearer to a spherical form. After passing the central die members the slug is transferred through the chute I54 to the last set of die members which reduces and finishes the slugs to form balls of the desired diameter and smoothness. When the balls are discharged from the last set of die members they are received by the off-take chute I59 and discharged from the machine.

Balls treated as above described better perform the grinding operation for which they are constructed, and are of substantially longer life owing to the fact that there are no flashes or other imperfections that will prevent free rolling of the balls when in use. The forging action also makes a denser structure of the material from which the balls are constructed. The wearing surfaces of the balls are, therefore, kept in smooth, rounded condition and more effectively reduce the material upon which they are caused to act.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a method and apparatus whereby preformed slugs may be readily reduced to spherical shape of predetermined dimension, thereby providing better quality and more uniform grinding balls.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for smoothing and sizing balls including, a rotary die member having a passageway in the periphery thereof, a fixed die member having a passageway cooperating with the passageway in the rotary die member to form a constricted die passage, means for delivering balls to the die passage, means for rotating the rotary die member to move the balls through said passage, rocker arms, means pivotally connecting one end of the fixed die member to one of the rocker arms, a lost motion connection between the other end of the fixed die member and the other rocker arm, stop means for the rocker arms to maintain a definite minimum spacing between the is members, and means yieldingly retaining the rocker arms against said stop means.

2. An apparatus for smoothing and sizing balls including, a rotary die member having a passageway, a fixed die member having a passageway cooperating with the passageway in the rotary die member to form a constricted die passage, means for delivering balls to the die passage, means f rotating the rotary die member to move the balis through said passage, rocker arms, means pivotally connecting one end of the fixed die member to one of the rocker arms, a lost motion connection between the other end of the fixed die member and the other rocker arm, and means yieldingly urging the rocker arms in one direction to apply pressure on the balls moving through said passage.

3. An apparatus for smoothing and sizing balls including a rotary die member having an annular passageway in the periphery thereof, a plurality of segmental die members arranged in circular series about the rotary die member and having arcuate passageways cooperating with the passageway in the rotary die member to form a constricted die passage, pairs of lever arms respectively supporting the segmental die members, means pivotally connecting the respective ends of the segmental die members with the lever arms, means pivotally mounting the pairs of lever arms for independent movement relatively to each other, and means yieldingly engaging the lever arms to yieldingly retain said segmental members in die passage forming relation with the rotary member.

4. An apparatus for smoothing and sizing balls including a rotary die member having an annular passageway in the periphery thereof, a plurality of segmental die members arranged in circular series about the rotary die member and having arcuate passageways cooperating with the passageway in the rotary die member to form a constricter. die passage, pairs of lever arms respectively supporting the segmental die members, means pivotally connecting the respective ends of the segmental die members with the lever arms, means pivotally mounting the pairs of lever arms for independent movement relatively to each other, means yieldingly engaging the lever arms to yieldingly retain said segmental members in die passage forming relation with the rotary member, and stop means engaging the respective lever arms for limiting movement of the lever arms in the direction of the rotary member.

5. An apparatus for smoothing and sizing balls including a supporting frame, a rotary die member having an annular passageway in the periphery thereof, a shaft rotatably mounting said rotary die member on the supporting frame, a segmental die member extending about a portion of the periphery of the rotary die member and having a passageway cooperating with the annular passageway to form a constricted die passage, a shaft carried by the frame in spaced parallel relation with the first named shaft, lever arms on said last named shaft, means pivotally connecting the lever arms to the ends of the segmental die member, spring supporting arms carried by the lever arms, compression springs engaged between said spring supporting arms to yieldingly support the segmental die member in cooperative relation with the rotary die member, and stop means carried by the frame for limiting movement of said segmental die member in the direction of the rotary die member.

6. An apparatus for smoothing and sizing balls including a rotary die member having an annular passageway in the periphery thereof, a segmental die member having an. arcuate passageway cooperating with the passageway in the rotary die member to form a constricted die passage, a supporting frame, means mounting the rotary die member on the supporting frame, a shaft on the supporting frame, a pair of spaced lever arms having interconnected hub portions mounted on said shaft, means pivotally connecting one end of the segmental die member between said lever arms, a second set of lever arms having hub portions loosely mounted on the hub portion of one of the first named lever arms and extending at substantially right angles to the first named lever arms, means pivotally connecting the last named lever arms with the opposite end of the segmental die member, spring supporting arms on said lever arms, and a spring having its ends engaged between said spring supporting arms to yieldingly support said segmental die member in cooperative relation with the rotary die member, one pair of said arms having lost motion connection with the segmental die mem-- ber.

'7. In an apparatus of the character described, a, supporting frame, a shaft, bearing members on the frame for rotatably mounting the shaft, rotary die members slidably keyed on the shaft, circumferentially arranged die members cooperating with the respective rotary die members, means supporting the circumferential die members in fixed spaced relation on the frame, means connecting the outer rotary die members on the shaft to an intermediate rotary die member to adjustably vary the spacing between said rotary die members, and means for longitudinally adjusting the shaft in said bearing members to position the rotary die members relatively to the segmental die members.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a supporting frame, a bearing housing slidably supported in one side of the frame, a bearing housing threadedly mounted in the opposite side of the frame, antifriction bearings mounted in the bearing housings, a shaft having its ends extending through the bearing housings and rotatably journalled in said antifriction bearings, means anchoring the antifriction bearings on said shaft whereby adjustment of said threadedly mounted bearing housing effects longitudinal movement of theshaft, a plurality of rotary die members splined on the shaft having circumerential guide passageways, circumferential die members having passageways cooperating with the passageways in the rotary die members, and means supporting the circumferential die members in fixed spaced relation on the supporting frame whereby longitudinal adjustment of the shaft moves said rotary die members relatively to the circumferential die members to adjust the effective size of the passages formed by said passageways, and means for adjusting the rotary die members relatively to each other.

. -9. An apparatus for smoothing and sizing balls including a rotary diemember having a ball passageway in the periphery thereof, a segmental die member having a rigid body provided with an arcuate passageway cooperating with the ball passageway in the rotary die member to form a constricted die passage, a yielding support for the segmental die member, means pivotally connecting the respective ends of said body with said yielding support for independent movement to and from the rotary die member, and means for actuating the rotary die member to move balls through said constricted die passage.

10. An apparatus for smoothing and sizing balls including a rotary die member having a ball passageway in the periphery thereof, a segmental die member including a rigid body having an arcuate passageway cooperating with the ball passageway in the rotary die member to form a constricted die passage, arms pivotally connected with the respective ends of said body, means pivotally supporting said arms for movement on a fixed axis whereby the ends of said body have independent movement to and from the rotary die member, yielding means urging said arms in the direction of the rotary die member, and means for rotating the rotary die member to move balls through said constricted die passage.

11. An apparatus for smoothing and. sizing balls including a rotary die member having a passageway in the periphery thereof, an arcuate die member having a passageway cooperating with the passageway in the rotary die member to form a constricted die passage, means for delivering balls to the die passage, means for rotating the rotary die member to move the balls through said passage, pivotal means bodily supporting the arcuate die member, means pivotally connecting one end of the arcuate die member to said pivotal supporting means, and a lost motion connection between the other end of the arcuate die member and the pivotal supporting means.

12. An apparatus for smoothing and sizing balls including a rotary die member having a passageway in the periphery thereof, a cooperative die member having a passageway cooperating with the passageway in the rotary die member to form a constricted die passage, means for rotating the rotary die member to move balls through said die passage, pivotal means bodily supporting the cooperative die member, means pivotally connecting one end of the cooperative die member to the pivotal supporting means, and a lost motion connection between the other end of the cooperative die member and the pivotal supporting means.

13. An apparatus for smoothing balls including rotary and segmental die, members having cooperating passageways to form a constricted die passage, means for delivering balls to the die passage, means for moving the rotary die member to move the balls through said passage,

means pivotally and yieldingly supporting the segmental die member adjacent the respective ends thereof for independent yielding movement with respect to the rotary die member so that when one or the other end of the segmental die member moves away from the rotary die member the opposite end pivots on its yielding support to retain the balls in smoothing engagement between said members through the entire length of said passage, and means for shifting one of the die members laterally of the other to vary the effective size of said constricted passage.

14. An apparatus for smoothing balls including rotary and segmental die members having cooperating passageways to form a constricted die passage, means for delivering balls to the die passage, means for moving the rotary die member to move the balls through said passage, and means pivotally and yieldingly supporting the segmental die member adjacent the respective ends thereof for independent yielding movement with respect to the rotary die member so that when one or the other end of the segmental die member moves away from the rotary die member the opposite end pivots on its yielding support to retain the balls in smoothing engagement between said members through the entire length of said passage.

FRED H. G. BRANDT. 

